After a chance meeting, an elderly widower working as a janitor to raise his two grandsons receives $75,000

After a chance meeting, an elderly widower working as a janitor to raise his two grandsons receives $75,000

An older man who had to work really hard to maintain his adopted grandchildren who had special needs was devastated by the untimely and tragic death of his beloved wife. One day he ran into an old coworker at work who was moved by his story and decided to help.

Wendall and Della Gill of Lexington, Kentucky, have been together and well acquainted with one another since they were young. As time passed, their love became stronger, and they ultimately made the decision to get married, vowing to be devoted to one another for the rest of their lives.

Together, the Gills faced all of life’s ups and downs while holding hands.

Late in August 2018, Wendall got a day off from work, so he and Della set off on errands. They next paid a quick visit to the Lexington, Kentucky, McDonald’s, where Wendall worked.

When Todd Oldfield, a fellow ex-employee, McDonald’s showed up at Wendall’s workplace in September, he was taken aback. Oldfield simply intended to stay for a quick meal. The two of them met for the first time when Todd was hired for his first job in June 1978. Todd said: Considering how long it had been since their first meeting, Todd said:

«I simply believed [Wendall] to be a nice, elderly man. I’m ten years older than he was at that time.

Todd was taken aback when he learned about Wendall’s situation when they sat down and started talking. The elderly man told him that his wife of more than sixty years had died unexpectedly, leaving him and their adopted grandchildren to fend for themselves while he was disabled.

Assisting His Bereaved Friend

Todd set up a crowdfunding page to help Wendall get through the winter. Wendall must continue working in the store, walking past this restroom and cleaning it on a daily basis. He doesn’t have any money. He must persevere…he must remain strong.»

Wendall’s oldest adopted grandson, John Columbia, was diagnosed with autism when he was 33 years old. Wendall’s youngest adoptive grandson, Justin Gill, was born with fetal alcohol syndrome.

Todd decided to take action after quitting his job at McDonald’s and becoming a financial advisor. He felt an overwhelming need to help the Gill family in some way.

Obtaining Funds
What began as a Facebook post and a request for help evolved into an online fundraising campaign that raised a staggering $75,000 over the course of several months. For both Todd and Wendall, this was a genuine moment of surprise, delight, and relief.

As more money came in, Todd helped Wendall pay off his two cars, van, and house, as well as purchase a suitable headstone for Della. «I AM EXTREMELY PLEASED TO REPORT THAT ONE MAN HAS stepped forward to pay for this. «We’ve chosen a headstone marker,» Todd added.

The GoFundMe page had received approximately 2,000 donations and had totaled $115,520 before being shut down. Todd expressed his desire to see Wendall spend the entire day relaxing at McDonald’s and drinking coffee rather than working and cleaning up the house in a video posted to the fundraising page.

Todd had the idea to do something unique in order to make a close friend feel valued and appreciated for the years of hard work he had put in. On October 20, 2018, he hosted a «Appreciation Party» at a church in the Lexington McDonald’s neighborhood.

The Thank You Party
Todd decided to take another action in order to honor and cherish his close friend for all of his hard work over the years. He planned a «Appreciation Party» at a church near the Lexington McDonald’s location on October 20, 2018.

Given his pain and heart-stopping experience, Wendall could use a few hugs and words of encouragement from friends, family, and strangers. Wendall felt valued and special as a result of the event, which was a huge success.

At the same time, Todd expressed gratitude to everyone who came and brightened his friend’s day. «I’d lost a little faith in humanity until this came along,» he said before.

Please leave some kind words on Facebook for this elderly man and his thoughtful companion.